Vehicle light with dual projection film

ABSTRACT

A vehicle light module, a headlight assembly, and a method for communicating information at a panel having transparent and opaque states; a projector device projects visual representations toward the panel where visual representations are displayed on the panel when in an opaque state and through the panel when in a transparent state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of Ser. No. 17/130,005filed 22 Dec. 2020 (now published US2021/0170941), which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/991,615 filed May 29, 2018(now issued U.S. Pat. No. 10,899,272), the disclosures of which arehereby incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to lighting systems, and more particularly to alighting device that utilizes a dual projection film to displayinformation.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicles contain numerous lighting devices for both interior andexterior illumination. For example, exterior vehicle lighting devicesmay perform stop lamp functions, tail lamp functions, headlampfunctions, daytime running light functions, dynamic bending lightfunctions, and fog lamp functions.

Vehicles often include various systems such as infotainment andnavigation systems. The systems are usually mounted in a dashboard of avehicle cabin for driver and front passenger access. Such systems areavailable to users inside the vehicle only. Looking at the dashboard maydistract the driver and decrease the safety of the driver andpassengers. Further, information may be displayed at various positionsinside the vehicle for the convenience of the passengers. In recentyears, screen that provides transparency and opacity have beendeveloped. Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) screens may provideboth transparency and partial or complete opacity. PDLC screens includeone or more layers of liquid crystal dispersions. The “background”description provided herein is for purposes of generally presenting thecontext of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to theextent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects ofthe description which may not otherwise qualify as conventional art atthe time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted asconventional art against the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein include the following aspects.

In one aspect, a vehicle light module is provided. The vehicle lightmodule includes a panel having a transparent state and an opaque state;and a projector operable to project a visual representation toward thepanel. The visual representation is displayed on the panel when in anopaque state and on a second surface when in a transparent state.

In one aspect, the vehicle light module includes a controller configuredto change an operation state of the panel between the transparent stateand the opaque state.

In one aspect, the controller controls a power supply to the panel.

In one aspect, the controller activates the power supply to the panelwhen in a transparent state and deactivates the power supply when in theopaque state.

In one aspect, the controller activates the power supply to the panelwhen in an opaque state and deactivates the power supply when in thetransparent state.

In one aspect, the panel is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)screen.

In one aspect, the vehicle light module is included in a headlampassembly.

In one aspect, the vehicle light module includes one or more opticalelements configured to control an angle of projection of the visualrepresentation on the second surface.

In one aspect, the second surface is a road, an interior floor, aninterior space, or airspace in front of or around the vehicle.

In one aspect, the projector is operatively coupled to a head unit of avehicle.

In one embodiment, a headlight assembly is provided. The headlightassembly includes one or more vehicle light modules. Each of the vehiclelight module includes a panel having a transparent state and an opaquestate; a projector operable to project a visual representation towardthe panel; and wherein the visual representation is displayed on thepanel when in an opaque state and on a second surface when in atransparent state.

In one embodiment, a method of communicating information via a vehiclelight module, the method comprising receiving a visual representation;projecting the visual representation toward a panel having a transparentstate and an opaque state; and wherein the visual representation isdisplayed on the panel when in an opaque state and on a second surfacewhen in a transparent state.

The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of generalintroduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the followingclaims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages,will be best understood by reference to the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a front-end of an exemplary motor vehicle accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 1B illustrates an interior of the exemplary motor vehicle accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 1C illustrates the interior of the exemplary motor vehicleaccording to another embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic that illustrates a vehicle light module accordingto one example;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the vehicle light module in various operationmodes according to one example;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary panel of the vehicle light moduleaccording to one example;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematics that illustrate the operation of thevehicle light module according to one example;

FIGS. 6A-6D are schematics that illustrate various positioning of thevehicle light module according to one example;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for a notification process using the vehicle lightmodule according to one example; and

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a vehicle environment accordingto one example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions are meant to further clarify the presentdisclosure by giving specific examples and embodiments of thedisclosure. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative rather thanexhaustive. The full scope of the disclosure is not limited to anyparticular embodiment disclosed in the specification, but rather isdefined by the claims.

In the interest of clarity, not all of the features of theimplementations described herein are shown and described in detail. Itwill be appreciated that in the development of any such actualimplementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be madein order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliancewith application- and business-related constraints, and that thesespecific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from onedeveloper to another.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout several views, the followingdescription relates to a vehicle light module and associated methodologyfor communicating messages and information.

FIG. 1A illustrates a front-end of an exemplary motor vehicle 100. Motorvehicle 100 includes two headlamp assemblies 105 a and 105 b. Headlampassemblies 105 a and 105 b include low beam headlamps 110 a and 110 b(also referred to as a lower or dipped beam), high beam headlamps 115 aand 115 b (also referred to as a main or driving beam), and vehiclelight modules 120 a and 120 b. Typically, the low beam headlamps 110 aand 110 b are used whenever another vehicle is on the road directlyahead of motor vehicle 100 and/or whenever another vehicle isapproaching motor vehicle 100 from an opposite direction. The vehiclelight modules 120 a and 120 b may include a projector and a panel asdescribed further below. The vehicle light modules 120 a and 120 b areused whenever the vehicle user wants to communicate with individualsoutside the vehicle 100 and/or to display infotainment and navigationinformation (or other visual representation). The vehicle light module120 may also be included in the vehicle taillight area and in lightmodules in the interior of the motor vehicle 100. The vehicle lightmodule may also be included in side marker lamps in either or both sideof the motor vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 may be any type of vehiclesuch as a car, truck, bus, helicopter, or motorcycle. The vehicle 100may be gas-powered, diesel powered, electric, or solar-powered. Thevehicle 100 may be actively operated by a driver or may be partially orcompletely autonomous or self-driving.

As will be further described, the displayed content can includepersonalized information or entertainment content such as navigationinformation or any other information originated onboard and/or off boardthe vehicle 100. The displayed content may be information for thevehicle user, other vehicle users (e.g., drivers), or pedestrians on theroad. In one example, the vehicle user may communicate hazards. Thedisplayed content may also be displayed via the taillight modules tovehicles behind the motor vehicle 100.

The light sources of the modules and headlamps may be supplied withpower in a known manner by a device for controlling the supply of powerto the light sources as would be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art. Such devices may include a converter for converting a voltagesupplied by a current source of a motor vehicle, such as a car battery,into a charging voltage suitable for supplying power to the light sourceor sources. The power supply may also supply power to the screen asdescribed later herein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic that illustrates the vehicle light module 120according to one example. The vehicle light module 120 may include aprojector 202 and a panel 204. The panel 204 may provide bothtransparency and partial or complete opacity. The panel 204 (i.e.,screen, film) may be a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) screen.The panel may also include polymer dispersed quantum dots, polymerdispersed nanoparticles, or the like as would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. The panel 204 may also include electrochromicelements whose transmission properties for light can be changed as afunction of an applied voltage. When opaque, the panel 204 may have amilky opaque appearance. The panel 204 is opaque in an “Off” mode and istransparent in an “On” mode. In one implementation, the panel 204 istransparent in an “Off” mode and is opaque in an “On” mode. The “On”mode is activated by applying a current or voltage to the panel 204. Inone implementation, the panel 204 may be a coating. The coating may aPDLC film applied to one or more parts of the headlamp assemblies 105 a,105 b. Schematic 402 of FIG. 4 shows an exemplary panel 204 in an “Off”mode. Schematic 404 of FIG. 4 shows the exemplary panel 204 in an “On”mode. The exemplary panel 204 is opaque in the “Off” mode andtransparent in the “On” mode.

The panel 204 may also include one or more panels. For example, thepanel 204 can also include multiple switching film pieces/pixels toprovide high control. Each of the panel 204 may be individually orcollectively controlled.

In the “Off” mode, the panel 204 may display the information. In the“On” mode, the information is displayed on the road as described furtherbelow. The information may also be displayed on any surface or air spaceoutside the vehicle. The light from the vehicle light module 120 may beadded to light from other vehicle lights to satisfy photometricrequirements of a function. The projector 202 may be coupled to acontrol module including a processor and a memory. The control modulemay be a portion of a central vehicle control, a stand-alone unit, orother system such as a cloud-based system. The processor may be any typeof microprocessor having desired performance characteristics. The memorymay include any type of computer readable medium which stores the dataand control algorithms. The control module may connect via a network toone or more subsystems of the vehicle such as a head unit. The controlmodule may also connect via the network to one or more electronicdevices associated with the vehicle user.

The projector 202 may be a mini-projector, a pico projector, or a laserprojector. The vehicle light module 120 may also include a plurality ofoptical elements. For example, the vehicle light module 120 may includeone or more mirrors and one or more lenses. The angle of the one or moremirrors may be adjusted via the control module to change the position ofthe projected image. For example, the angle may be changed relative tothe center line of the motor vehicle 100. Further, the size of theprojected image may be changed by adjusting the one or more lenses andthe one or more mirrors.

Aesthetic design considerations may include uniformity of the lightprojected on the road, color, shape and curvatures of the panels, andintensity of the light projected. The panel 204 may also be enhancedwith pigments, nanoparticles, phosphors and other additives to changethe optical characteristics of the panel 204.

In one example, the vehicle light module may be a part of the headlampassembly 105 a. The information (i.e., projected image) is projected onthe road in front of the vehicle 100. The headlamp assembly 105 a mayinclude a plurality of the vehicle light modules 120. Each vehicle lightmodule 120 may be controlled independently by the control module. In oneimplementation, each vehicle light module 120 may display the same imageor information. For example, each image may be indicia of pedestrianscrossing (e.g., footsteps). In one implementation, the vehicle lightmodules 120 may display complimentary images. For example, a firstvehicle light module may display general information while a secondvehicle light module may display details associated with the generalinformation. For example, the first vehicle light module (e.g., 120 a ofFIG. 1) may project destination information and time to destination andthe second vehicle light module (e.g., 120 b of FIG. 1) may project thenext navigational step from the navigational directions. Each vehiclelight module 120 may display/project a portion of the information (e.g.,image) to be displayed (e.g., navigation directions or map). In oneimplementation, the information to be displayed may be divided betweentwo or more vehicle light modules 120. For example, when the informationinclude navigation information displayed on a head unit. The controlmodule may retrieve the navigation information from the head unit anddivide the information between a plurality of vehicle light modules 120such as to replicate the image or information displayed on the head uniton the road.

The vehicle light module 120 may be installed in the interior of thevehicle 100. In addition, the vehicle light module 120 may be includedin a tail lamp assembly or any auxiliary lighting around the vehicle.

FIG. 1B illustrates an interior of the exemplary motor vehicle 100according to one embodiment. The vehicle light module 120 may be used asan infotainment screen. The vehicle light module may be installed on arear side of a seat. The vehicle light module may be used as aninfotainment screen to display information in the “OFF” mode. In an “ON”mode, the vehicle light module may be used as a reading light orprojector.

FIG. 1C illustrates the interior of the exemplary motor vehicle 100according to another embodiment. The vehicle light module 120 may beinstalled on the ceiling of the vehicle 100. The vehicle light module120 may provide light such as reading light for the passengers. Thevehicle light module 120 may also display aesthetic designs (e.g.,stars) when in an “OFF” mode.

FIG. 3A illustrates the vehicle light module 120 in an “Off” mode. Thepanel 204 is opaque and a plane of projection is indicated by 206. Thus,the information are displayed on the panel 204 when the vehicle lightmodule 120 is operated in an “Off” mode.

FIG. 3B illustrates the vehicle light module 120 in an “On” modeaccording to one example. The panel is transparent and does not blockthe light from the projector 202. The projection in the “On” mode is onthe plane indicated by 206. The information are displayed on the plane206. As a function of the orientation of the vehicle light module 120,the information may be displayed on the road in front of the vehicle 100or to the side of the vehicle 100. In one implementation, theinformation may be projected on the back or side of another vehicle.

In one implementation, the two headlamps may project similar informationon the road in front of the vehicle. For example, both vehicle lightmodules 120 a, 120 b associated with the headlamp assemblies 105 a and105 b may project crossing lines for the pedestrians as shown in FIG.5A. The vehicle light module 120 of a rear lamp may be in the “On” modeand displays an indication that pedestrian are crossing in front of thevehicle as shown in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6A is a schematic that shows the vehicle light module 120 installedon the front of vehicle 100 between the two headlamp assemblies 105 aand 105 b. In one example, the vehicle light module 120 may display ridesharing information.

FIG. 6B is a schematic that shows the vehicle light module 120 installedon the side of vehicle 100. For example, the vehicle light module 120may be installed on the front door or back door of the vehicle 100 onthe passenger side. In one example, the vehicle light module 120 maydisplay information associated with the type of the vehicle (e.g., ridesharing, taxi, or the like).

FIG. 6C is a schematic that shows the vehicle light module 120 installedon the rear of vehicle 100 between rear light assemblies 605 a and 605b. The vehicle light module 120 may display information to a vehiclefollowing the vehicle 100. For example, the vehicle light module 120 maydisplay notices and information associated with the driver nextnavigation maneuver which increases safety and minimizes trafficaccidents.

FIG. 6D is a schematic that shows the vehicle light module 120 installedin the rear light assemblies. The vehicle light module 120 may providelight color from the projector for legal functions. For example, theprojector may provide red color light for stop/brake function as shownin FIG. 6D. The vehicle light module may also display a plurality ofcolors when displaying pictographs.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for a notification process 700 using the vehiclelight module 120 according to one example. At step 702, the controlmodule may receive a user input from a vehicle user. The user input maybe sent via the head unit, via a voice command, or an electronic deviceassociated with the vehicle user. The user input may include a selectionbetween panel display or road projection display, the informationsource, a duration (e.g., display information for 5 minutes, update anddisplay information continuously), and a location (e.g., front headlamp,side, rear). The control module may receive a visual representation or alegal light output/function such as turn, stop, tail, and the like. Atstep 704, the control module may determine whether the informationassociated with the user input is to be displayed one the screen or onthe road. In response to determining that the information is to bedisplayed on the screen resulting in a “yes” at step 704, the processproceeds to step 708. In response to determining that the informationassociated with the user input are for road projection, resulting in a“no” at step 704, the process proceeds to step 706.

At step 708, the control module may turn off the power to the screen 204in response to determining that the power is turned on. The processproceeds to step 710. At step 706, the control module may turn on thepanel when the power to the panel is off. Then, the process proceeds tostep 710.

At step 710, the projector 202 is activated and the information isdisplayed. For example, the screen 204 may display informationassociated with ride sharing such as customer name and the name companyof the ride sharing service. The information may be retrieved from anelectronic device (e.g., smartphone) associated with the driver andconnected to a network of the vehicle.

In one implementation, the vehicle light module may be coupled to one ormore cameras. The one or more cameras may be configured to capture scenefrom outside and/or inside the vehicle 100. The captured scene may becoupled with pictographs or other graphic representations. The capturedmay be displayed on the screen or projected on an outer surface aninterior surface as described previously herein.

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a vehicle environment 800 inwhich embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be implemented.The vehicle environment 800 includes a vehicle 801 in communication withone or more external devices 850 by way of one or more external networks880. Vehicle 801 also includes various internal networks 840 forinterconnecting several vehicle devices within the vehicle as will bediscussed below. The vehicle environment 800 may also include one ormore in-vehicle mobile device 830. External devices 850 include anydevice located outside the vehicle 801 such that the external devicemust communicate with the vehicle and its devices by an external network880. For example, the external devices may include mobile devices,electronic devices in networked systems (e.g., servers or clients in alocal area network (LAN), etc.), on board computers of other vehiclesetc. In-vehicle mobile devices 830 are devices which are located within,or in the vicinity of the vehicle 801 such that the in-vehicle mobiledevice can communicate directly with internal networks 840 of thevehicle 801. In-vehicle mobile devices 830 may also connect withexternal networks 880 as discussed below.

Vehicle 801 includes vehicle devices integral with or otherwiseassociated with the vehicle 801. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, vehicledevices include one or more sensors 803, one or more actuators 805, oneor more control units 807, one or more media systems 808, one or moredisplays 809, one or more routers 811, one or more antenna 813, and oneor more on board computers 820. The one or more on board computers 820may correspond to the control module. As used herein, the term “vehicledevice” is meant to encompass sensors, actuators, controllers,electronic control units (ECUs), detectors, instruments, embeddeddevices, media devices including speakers, a CD and/or DVD player, aradio, etc., vehicle navigation systems (e.g., GPS) displays, otherperipheral or auxiliary devices or components associated with thevehicle 801.

Sensors 803 detect various conditions within (or in the immediatevicinity of) the vehicle 801. For example, sensors 803 may betemperature sensors, photosensors, position sensors, speed sensors,angle sensors or any other sensor for detecting a diagnostic conditionor other parameter of the vehicle 801 or its ambient environment.Sensors 803 may be passive or “dumb” sensors that provide an analogrepresentative of the sensed parameter, or so called “smart” sensorswith integrated memory and digital processing capability to analyze theparameter sensed within the sensor itself Actuators 805 cause motion ofsome mechanical element of the vehicle in response to a control signal.For example, actuators 805 may be hydraulic actuators, pneumaticactuators or electrical/electronic actuators such as a stepper motor.Actuators 805 may be used to move vehicle lighting devices to implementintelligent light, for example. Actuators 805 may be used to move theone or more mirrors of the vehicle light module 120.

Actuators 805 may also be “dumb” devices that react to a simple analogvoltage input, or “smart” devices with built-in memory and processingcapability. Actuators 805 may be activated based on a sensed parameterfrom sensors 803, and one such sensed parameter may be a physicalposition of the actuator 803 itself. Thus, the sensors 803 and actuators805 may be connected in a feedback control loop for diagnostic detectionand control of the vehicle 801.

Control units 807 include any embedded system, processor, electroniccontrol unit (ECU) or microcontroller. Control unit 807 may be dedicatedto a specific region or function of the vehicle 801. For example,control unit 807 can provide memory and control logic functions forseveral dumb devices, such as passive sensors 803 and actuators 805. Inone embodiment, control unit 807 is an ECU dedicated for controlling oneor more lighting devices, for example vehicle light module 120,according to embodiments disclosed herein. Typically, numerous ECUs,with different embedded software, may be found in a single automobileand may communicate via internal networks as discussed below.

On-board computer 820 is a vehicle device for providing general purposecomputing functionality within the vehicle 801. The on-board computer820 typically handles computationally intensive functions based onsoftware applications or “apps” loaded into memory. On-board computer820 may also provide a common interface for different communicationnetworks in the vehicle environment 800. On-board computer 820 includesone or more processor 821, one or more memory 823, one or more userinterface 825 (e.g., the operator interface described previouslyherein), and one or more network interface 827. One or more display 809and one or more router 811 may be an integral part of the on boardcomputer 810, or distributed in the vehicle and associated with theon-board computer and other vehicle devices. Separate displays 809 maybe provided in suitable locations for access by a driver and passengersin the vehicle 801.

On-board computer 820, and other associated or integrated componentssuch as vehicle devices can include one or more memory element 823 forstoring information to be used in achieving operations associated withcontrol of one or more vehicle lights as disclosed herein. Further,these devices may keep information in any suitable memory element (e.g.,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), field programmablegate array (FPGA), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), etc.), software,hardware, or in any other suitable component, device, element, or objectwhere appropriate and based on particular needs. The information beingtracked, sent, received, or stored in vehicle environment 800 could beprovided in any database, register, table, cache, queue, control list,or storage structure, based on particular needs and implementations, allof which could be referenced in any suitable timeframe.

In example embodiments, the operations for controlling the vehicle lightmodule 120 may be implemented by logic encoded in one or more tangiblemedia, which may be inclusive of non-transitory media (e.g., embeddedlogic provided in an ASIC, digital signal processor (DSP) instructions,software potentially inclusive of object code and source code to beexecuted by a processor or other similar vehicle device, etc.). In someof these instances, one or more memory elements (e.g., memory 823) canstore data used for the operations described herein. This includes thememory elements being able to store software, logic, code, or processorinstructions that are executed to carry out the activities described inthis Specification.

Processor 821 can execute software or algorithms to perform activitiesto enable control of lighting devices disclosed herein. A processor 821can execute any type of instructions associated with the data to achievethe operations detailed herein. In one example, the activities outlinedherein may be implemented with fixed logic or programmable logic (e.g.,software/computer instructions executed by a processor) and the elementsidentified herein could be some type of a programmable processor,programmable digital logic (e.g., an FPGA, an EPROM, an EEPROM), or anASIC that includes digital logic, software, code, electronicinstructions, flash memory, optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD ROMs, magneticor optical cards, other types of computer-readable mediums suitable forstoring electronic instructions. Any of the potential processingelements, modules, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs),and other devices described herein should be construed as beingencompassed within the broad term ‘processor.’

Elements of FIG. 8 may be communicatively coupled to one another by oneor more suitable communications medium (e.g., wired, wireless, optical)that provides a pathway for electronic communications. Any element inFIG. 8 may act as a network node in communication with any other elementof FIG. 8 also acting as a network node. Any suitable network messagingprotocol, network topology or network geographic scope may be includedin the vehicle environment 800. Thus, embodiments of on-board computer820 may include one or more distinct interfaces, represented by networkinterfaces 827, to facilitate communication via the various networks(including both internal and external networks) described herein. Suchnetwork interfaces 827 may be inclusive of multiple wireless interfaces(e.g., WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, white space, 802.1 1x, satellite, Bluetooth,LTE, GSM/HSPA, CDMA/EVDO, DSRC, CAN, GPS, etc.). Other interfacesrepresented by network interfaces 827, may include physical ports (e.g.,Ethernet, USB, HDMI, etc.), interfaces for wired and wireless internalsubsystems, and the like. Similarly, each of the nodes of vehicleenvironment 800 can also include suitable interfaces for receiving,transmitting, and/or otherwise communicating data or information in thevehicle environment 800.

Multiple internal vehicle networks represented by 840 may exist in thevehicle 801 to provide communication pathways to various vehicle devicesdistributed throughout the vehicle 801. An internal vehicle network 840is a collection of nodes, such as vehicle devices, integrated with orotherwise linked to the vehicle and interconnected by communicationmeans. Vehicle networks 840 typically include hard wired bus typenetworks, each providing communication pathways to particular vehicledevices distributed throughout a vehicle. FIG. 8 shows four examples ofsuch hard wired networks: Controller Area Network (CAN) 841, LocalInternet Network (LIN) 843, Flexray bus 845, and Media Oriented SystemTransport (1\rIOST) network 847.

CAN bus 841 uses a message based protocol, designed for and typicallyused by automotive applications. The CAN bus 841 is a vehicle busstandard designed to allow microcontrollers, sensors, and other devicesto communicate with each other via the CAN without a host computer. CANprotocol may be used for soft real-time control of devices such as avehicle antilock braking system. For example, CAN bus 841 may connect atransmission sensor and an energy sensor to a main engine controller,and a different CAN bus may connect the main engine controller and amain body controller to on-board computer 820. LIN network 843 may beused to sense external conditions such as light, or to control smallmechanisms such as door locking systems. For example, LIN bus 843 mayconnect a driver's seat actuator, temperature controls, and windshieldwiper actuators to a main body controller of a CAN bus.

Flexray bus 845 is typically a dedicated network for hard real-timecontrollers, used for drive-by-wire and/or brake-by-wire applications inwhich information from the engine and/or wheels of the vehicle 801 iscollected and transmitted to appropriate applications and/or datarepositories. For example, Flexray bus 845 may connect a chassis moduleof the vehicle 801 to on-board computer 820 through an appropriateinterface, and/or may connect brakes and electronic stability control(ESB) to the chassis module attached to Flexray 845. MOST network 847can also be found in vehicles for transmitting audio, video, and voiceon fiber optics. MOST buses 847 can connect media system 808, toon-board computer 820 through appropriate interfaces, and/or connect areversing camera and a navigation system to an intermediate device whichis connected to computer by MOST bus 847 such as the projector 202 ofthe vehicle light module 120.

Other hard wired internal networks such as Ethernet may be used tointerconnect vehicle devices in the vehicle 801. Further, internalwireless networks 849, such as near field communications, Bluetooth,etc. may interconnect vehicle devices.

External networks 880 may be accessed from vehicle 801 by vehicledevices and in-vehicle mobile devices 830 when a communication link 835is available. In-vehicle mobile devices 830 include mobile phones, smartmobile phones (smartphones), e-book readers, tablets, iPads, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), laptops or electronic notebooks, portablenavigation systems, multimedia gadgets (e.g., cameras, video and/oraudio players, etc.), gaming systems, other handheld electronic devices,and any other device, component, element, or object capable ofinitiating voice, audio, video, media, or data exchanges within vehicleenvironment 800. Data may be any type of numeric, voice, video, orscript data, or any type of source or object code, or any other suitableinformation in any appropriate format that may be communicated from onepoint to another in electronic devices and/or networks. A vehicle router811 may also be used to access external network infrastructure withinrange of the antenna 813 of vehicle 801.

Some form of wireless communication is needed to achieve externalnetwork connectivity from vehicle 801. For example third generation(3G), fourth generation (4G), and 3GPP long term evolution (LTE)wireless telephone technologies, worldwide interoperability formicrowave access (WiMax), WiFi, and dedicated short-range communications(DSRC) are some of the numerous wireless technologies currentlyavailable with the appropriate interfaces and network infrastructure tosupport the technology.

Users (driver or passenger) may initiate communication in vehicleenvironment 800 via some network, and such communication may beinitiated through any suitable device such as, in-vehicle mobile device830, display 809, user interface 825, or external devices 850, forexample to activate a mode of operation of the vehicle light module 120.

In-vehicle mobile devices 830, and mobile devices external to vehicle801, may communicate with on-board computer 820 through any wireless orwired communication link and may be configured as a personal areanetwork (PAN) or a wireless personal area network (WP AN) or any otherappropriate networking architecture or system that facilitatescommunications in a network environment. Wired and wirelesscommunication links may any electronic link such as Bluetooth, wirelesstechnologies (e.g., IEEE 802.1 1x), a USB cable, an HDMI cable, etc. Inone example, an external mobile device may be connected to computer 820through a USB cable or wireless network when, for example, the externalmobile device is a diagnostic tool used by a mechanic for servicingvehicle 801.

Alternatively, FIG. 2 and the presented embodiments may similarly applysuspension particle devices technology (e.g. suspension particledisplay, suspended particle dispersion; SPD) into the vehicle lightmodule 120 according to another example. The vehicle light module 120can include a projector 202 (e.g. projection light source, micro-lensarray, laser, etc.) and a panel 204. The panel 204 can provide bothtransparency and partial or complete opacity. The panel 204 (i.e.screen, film) can represent a Suspension Particle Device (SPD) screen.The panel can also include Polymer Network Liquid Crystal (PNLC)arrangements, polymer dispersed quantum dots, polymer dispersednanoparticles or the like as would be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art. The panel 204 can also include electrochromic elementswhose transmission properties for light can be altered or modified as afunction of applied voltages or electrical current. Under opaqueconditions, the panel 204 can have a milky opaque appearance. The panel204 can be opaque in an “Off” mode and can be transparent in an “On”mode. Among alternate implementations, the panel 204 is transparent inan “Off” mode and is opaque in an “On” mode. The “On” mode can beactivated by applying a current or voltage to the panel 204. In otherimplementations, the panel 204 can include a coating. The coating can bea SPD-type film applied to one or more parts of the headlamp assemblies105 a, 105 b. As an example, schematic 402 of FIG. 4 represents anexemplary panel 204 in an “Off” mode. The same FIG. 4 also showsschematic 404 as the exemplary panel 204 in an “On” mode. Mutually, itshould be noted that the exemplary panel 204 can be opaque in the “Off”mode and can be transparent in the “On” mode.

While certain embodiments have been described herein, these embodimentsare presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the disclosure. Using the teachings in this disclosure, aperson having ordinary skill in the art can modify and adapt thedisclosure in various ways, making omissions, substitutions, and/orchanges in the form of the embodiments described herein, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the disclosure. Moreover, in interpretingthe disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possiblemanner consistent with the context. The accompanying claims and theirequivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications, as wouldfall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle light module comprising: a panel havinga transparent state and an opaque state, wherein the panel represents adual projection film or screen; and a projector operable to project alight function toward the panel; said vehicle light module furtherincluding a controller that is configured to change an operation stateof the panel between the transparent state and the opaque state, whereinthe controller is configured to activate a power supply to the panelwhen in the transparent state and deactivate the power supply when inthe opaque state, and wherein the projector is configured to project thelight function on the panel when in the opaque state and is configuredto project another light function through the panel when in thetransparent state.
 2. The vehicle light module of claim 1, wherein thepanel includes a type of Suspended Particle Device (SPD) or PolymerNetwork Liquid Crystal (PNLC) film or screen device.
 3. The vehiclelight module of claim 1, wherein the controller manages or regulatespower supply to the panel film or screen device.
 4. The vehicle lightmodule of claim 1, wherein the controller activates the power supply tothe panel when in the transparent state and deactivates the power supplywhen in the opaque state.
 5. The vehicle light module of claim 1,wherein the controller activates the power supply to the panel when inthe opaque state and deactivates the power supply when in thetransparent state.
 6. The vehicle light module of claim 1, wherein thepanel includes a type of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC), aPolymer Dispersed Quantum Dot or a Polymer Dispersed Nanoparticle filmor screen device.
 7. The vehicle light module of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the following assemblies is included in the vehicle lightmodule: a headlamp assembly, a tail lamp assembly, an auxiliary or aninterior lighted assembly.
 8. The vehicle light module of claim 1,further comprising: one or more optical elements configured to controlan angle or shape of projection of the light function on the secondsurface.
 9. The vehicle light module of claim 1, wherein the secondsurface is a road or air space around a vehicle.
 10. The vehicle lightmodule of claim 1, wherein the projector is operatively coupled to atleast one of the following vehicle structures: a head unit, awindscreen, a window or a transparent surface.
 11. The vehicle lightmodule of claim 1, wherein the light function is associated with a legallight output or legal function.
 12. A headlight assembly, comprising: anumber of vehicle light modules, where each of the vehicle light modulesinclude a panel having a transparent state and an opaque state, whereineach panel represents a dual projection film or screen; a projectormedia system is configured to project a number of light functions orinformation towards a number of respective panels, wherein said lightfunctions or information is configured to display on each respectivepanel during an opaque state and is configured to display another lightfunction or information through each associated panel when in atransparent state; said headlight assembly further comprises acontroller that changes an operation state of each respective panelbetween the transparent and opaque states, and wherein the projectormedia system is configured to project said light functions orinformation on each respective panel when in the opaque state and isconfigured to project another light function or information through eachassociated panel when in the transparent state.
 13. The headlightassembly of claim 12, further comprising a controller configured tochange the operation state of each panel between the transparent stateand the opaque state.
 14. The headlight assembly of claim 12, whereinthe panel includes a type of Suspended Particle Device (SPD) or PolymerNetwork Liquid Crystal (PNLC).
 15. The headlight assembly of claim 12,wherein the controller is configured to manage or regulate a powersupply to each respective panel and activates the power supply to thepanel when in the transparent state and deactivates the power supplywhen in the opaque state.
 16. The headlight assembly of claim 12,wherein the panel includes a type of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal(PDLC), a Polymer Dispersed Quantum Dot or a Polymer DispersedNanoparticle film or screen device.
 17. The headlight assembly of claim10, wherein the vehicle light module further includes one or moreoptical elements configured to control an angle or shape of projectionof said light functions or information through each respective panel.18. A method of communicating information via a vehicle light module,the method comprising: receiving a number of light output-functions atsaid vehicle light module; and projecting the at least one visualrepresentation toward a panel comprising a dual projection film orscreen having a transparent state and an opaque state, wherein saidlight output-functions are displayed on the panel when in an opaquestate and another light output-function is displayed through the panelwhen in a transparent state.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: changing, using a controller, an operation state of thepanel between the transparent state and the opaque state.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein the controller controls a power supply to thepanel.